US5844644A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Liquid crystal display with microlenses between interdigital electrodes and method
Assignee: LG Display Co Ltd
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Filing: 1997-07-22
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Granted: 1998-12-01
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Expires: 2017-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A liquid crystal display with in-plane switching mode for improving its light transmittance, includes a first substrate that forms light transmissive portions and light untransmissive portions, a second substrate, and liquid crystal injected between the first and second substrates. The second substrate includes a black matrix, a color filter layer, an overcoat layer and an alignment film. The overcoat layer is patterned to form micro-lenses for refracting the incident light to pass through the light transmissive portions without being blocked by the light untransmissive portions. Various patterning methods can be selected to form the micro-lenses.
Inventors
- 👤 Young-Jin Oh
- 👤 Jeong-Hyun Kim
- 👤 Dong-Hyo Gu
- 👤 Kyoung-Nam Lim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:47
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/133; G02F1/1333; G02F1/1343; G02F1/134309; G02F1/134363; G02F1/1335; G02F1/133526; G02F1/133509; G02F1/133512; G02F1/133514; G02F1/13356; G02F1/133565
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A liquid crystal display device comprising: a first substrate including pixel electrodes, counter electodes, and regions between the pixel electrodes, and counter electrodes, the pixel and counter electrodes including light transmissive portions, the regions including light transmissive portions; a second substrate; a liquid crystal between the first and second substrates and a focusing layer formed on the second substrate for focusing a light passing through the focusing layer onto said light transmissive portions and away from said light untransmissive portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A liquid crystal display device comprising: a first substrate including pixel electrodes, counter electodes, and regions between the pixel electrodes, and counter electrodes, the pixel and counter electrodes including light transmissive portions, the regions including light transmissive portions; a second substrate; a liquid crystal between the first and second substrates and a focusing layer formed on the second substrate for focusing a light passing through the focusing layer onto said light transmissive portions and away from said light untransmissive portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the index of refraction of the focusing layer is not less than 1.4.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the focusing layer includes micro-lenses which are convex towards the first substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the focusing layer includes micro-lenses which are concave towards the first substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light directed to said light untransmissive portions of the first substrate is refracted and passes through said light transmissive portions of the first substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein device has an in-plane switching mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the focusing layer includes micro-lenses formed on the second substrate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the micro-lenses are connected to each other.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising: an alignment layer formed on the micro-lenses.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the refractive index of the focusing layer is greater than that of the alignment layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the micro-lenses are convex towards the first substrate.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as claimed in claim 9, wherein the refractive index of the focusing layer is less than that of the alignment layer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the micro-lenses are concave towards the first substrate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A device as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a black matrix formed on the second substrate; and a color filter layer formed between the micro-lenses and the second substrate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A device as claimed claim 9, further comprising: an insulation film formed on the counter electrodes and under the pixel electrodes; source bus lines formed on the insulation film; and another alignment film formed on the insulation film.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of operating a liquid crystal display device including a first substrate having pixel electrodes, counter electrodes, and regions between the pixel electrodes and counter electrodes; a second substrate; and a liquid crystal between the first and second substrates, wherein the pixel and counter electrodes include light untransmissive portions and the regions include light transmissive portions, the method comprising the steps of: generating a light using a light source set behind the second substrate; and focusing the light passing tough the second substrate onto said light transmissive portions of the first substrate and away from said light untransmissive portions.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of operating a liquid crystal display device including a first substrate having pixel electrodes, counter electrodes, and regions between the pixel electrodes and counter electrodes; a second substrate; and a liquid crystal between the first and second substrates, wherein the pixel and counter electrodes include light untransmissive portions and the regions include light transmissive portions, the method comprising the steps of: generating a light using a light source set behind the second substrate; and focusing the light passing tough the second substrate onto said light transmissive portions of the first substrate and away from said light untransmissive portions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said focusing step includes the step of: passing the light through micro-lenses on the second substrate.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein in said passing steps, the refractive index of the micro-lenses is greater than that of the alignment layer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein in said passing step, the micro-lenses are convex towards the first substrate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein in said passing steps, the refractive index of the micro-lenses is less than that of the alignment layer.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein in said passing step, the micro-lenses are concave towards the first substrate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as claimed in claim 16, wherein said focusing step includes the step of: refracting the light approaching said light untransmissive portions of the first substrate so that the refracted light passes through said light transmissive portions of the first substrate.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one of the pixel electrodes and counter electrodes corresponds to portions of two of the micro-lenses.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device as claimed in claim 7, wherein at least one of the micro-lenses corresponds to at least one light transmissive portion, a portion of one pixel electrode, and a portion of one counter electrode.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein in said passing step, at least one of the pixel electrodes and counter electrodes corresponds to portions of two of the micro-lenses.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein in said passing step, at least one of the micro-lenses corresponds to at least one light transmissive portion, a portion of one pixel electrode, and a portion of one counter electrode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said focusing step further includes the step of: passing the light through an alignment layer formed on the micro-lenses.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-30 | 2002-06-01 | 2002-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-30 | 2006-06-01 | 2006-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-30 | 2010-06-01 | 2010-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |